The Best Ways to Store Out-of-Season Clothes

At this time of the year, when those quirky Christmas jumpers start hitting the shelves, many of us start panicking. However, we’re not panicking about the festive season sneaking up on us – we’re worried about where we’re going to put all these new clothes! Storing out-of-season clothes somewhere out of the way is a sensible solution. After all, what’s the point in having summer dresses and boardshorts taking up space in the wardrobe when we know the weather won’t hit anything close to 20 degrees until the spring? By putting those summer clothes in storage, there’s more room for your new purchases!

So just what are the best ways to store out-of-season clothes? One thing that’s important to understand is that simply throwing your clothes into a suitcase, or shoving them into a little corner in the attic, aren’t the best solutions. Why? Because some materials can become damaged very easily. If your attic space gets a little damp over winter, you could find your favourite t-shirts have grown mould, and if you store clothes incorrectly, you could find that clothes moths have enjoyed an all-you-can-eat silk buffet!

Here are 4 simple yet effective solutions for storing all those clothes you don’t need this season:

1. Humidity-Controlled Containers

If you choose to store your clothing at a local storage facility, look for a container that’s humidity-controlled – NOT temperature-controlled. Regulating the temperature does nothing more than make the place comfortable, and your clothes probably don’t care about that! Humidity-controlled containers use air conditioning units to keep the humidity below 60 percent. Anything higher and there’s an increased risk of mould, mildew and clothes moths.

2. Vacuum Bags

If you don’t already use vacuum bags, why not? Vacuum bags are the ultimate storage solution for soft materials and soft furnishings including out-of-season clothes, old linens and even stuffed toys. Vacuum bags are easy to use – they draw air out of the bag to save on space, and make it more difficult for mould spores to breed. And perhaps best of all, they help to keep moisture out, which means you can store your clothes-filled bags in the attic or even the garage.

3. Moth Balls

Clothes moths particularly target clothes in storage because the materials tend to all be squashed together, meaning they don’t have to search for their next meal! Moth balls are great at repelling clothes moths as they contain chemicals such as naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene which moths don’t particularly like. Be warned – they don’t exactly smell great! If the smell gets to you, try cedar balls. They’re a more natural alternative to moth balls.

4. Plastic Boxes

Whatever you do, make sure that you skip the cardboard boxes! Cardboard is one of the worst materials for storing out-of-season clothes in. Not only is cardboard not waterproof, but mice and rats can also eat through the cardboard… and your clothes! Instead, opt for plastic boxes which keep the damp away, and it’s also a good idea to line the bottom of the box with some old linens which can absorb any moisture that can build up as a result of unexpected humidity!

As tempting as it is, don’t try and squeeze all your new Christmas novelty jumpers and ties into a wardrobe that’s already bursting at the seams! If your clothes are all squashed up together, it typically means that if a moth eats through one top, it will eat through the next, and the next, and the next! Clothes need space to breathe, so start looking into simple yet effective storage solutions to keep your out-of-season clothes safe over the winter. Your future self will thank you when that spring sun appears!

SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

I give Beyond Storage permission to contact me about future news and promotions.